Probing the genetics of harmful algal blooms

Today, NOAA issued the 2015 Harmful Algal Bloom Season Forecast for Lake Erie that integrates rainfall, river flow, and nutrient runoff measurements into computer models to better predict toxic algal blooms. As part of a team of NOAA scientists, Timothy Davis, Ph.D. studies the genetics of toxic algae at NOAA’s Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL).

Is too many mussels even possible?

Those not familiar with the Great Lakes freshwater coasts may wonder how a seemingly endless supply of mussels could possibly be a bad thing. After all, saltwater mussels considered a delicacy by many, is a common item found on your favorite restaurant’s menu. Unfortunately, the freshwater dreissenid mussel is not only an unwelcomed item on the menu, but also in North America’s freshwater waterways. These invasive mussels have very few natural predators to limit their numbers, so their populations continue to grow and spread, wreaking havoc on the Great Lakes food web.

Understanding Great Lakes Ecosystems

Hongyan Zhang, Ph.D., uses computer models to investigate various topics, like the impact of invasive mussels on plankton, the occurrence of blue-green algal blooms, and the effectiveness of the phosphorous reduction program in Lake Erie.